The Sales Director is responsible for leading Universal’s theatrical sales strategy and execution in Germany. The role oversees exhibitor partnerships, drives box office performance across all releases, and ensures that revenue and profitability targets are achieved.
Reporting to the Managing Director Germany, the Sales Director plays a key leadership role within the organization as a member of the senior management team, shaping commercial strategy, strengthening key account relationships, and ensuring operational excellence in one of Universal’s most important international markets.
The position leads the German sales teams currently located in Frankfurt and Berlin and collaborates closely with Marketing, Finance and the technical team in Germany as well as with our international colleagues in London and Los Angeles.
Key Responsibilities
Sales & Commercial Strategy
- Develop and execute theatrical sales strategies for Germany across all releases, aligned with global and regional guidelines.
- Drive local dating strategies across all releases, aligned with global and regional guidelines
- Drive movie-by-movie commercial planning, forecasting, and post‑release performance analysis. Develop benchmarks for each release and maximise revenues.
- Lead commercial negotiations with exhibitors, including deal structures, terms & conditions, and long‑term strategic partnerships.
- Define booking strategies to maximize box office potential and optimize playability across cinema partners.
- Identify and implement new business opportunities, innovative release models, and scalable distribution approaches, particularly for mid‑range and smaller releases.
- Monitor and manage sales performance, P&L impact, outstanding balances, and box office reporting.
Exhibitor & Industry Relations
- Maintain and expand strong relationships with key German exhibitor partners to secure optimal playtime, screen allocation, and long-term collaboration.
- Act as the primary point of contact for major cinema chains and regional partners, representing Universal at industry events and strategic discussions.
- Represent Universal in relevant industry boards and drive the market development.
Team Leadership & People Development
- Lead, develop, and coach the German sales team, ensuring a high-performing, collaborative, and customer-focused culture.
- Succeed in talent management, including succession planning, internal promotions, and new hires to strengthen the department.
- Support a positive, inclusive workplace and ensure effective cross-functional communication and alignment and work closely with the HR team in Germany
Operational Excellence
- Work closely with Marketing and Finance to optimize release scheduling, forecasting, and overall delivery.
- Guide the team through complex, fast-paced release cycles, balancing large tentpole releases with smaller and specialty titles.
- Introduce and implement new processes, tools, and approaches to improve efficiency and decision-making.
Senior Stakeholder Engagement
- Collaborate closely with senior management in Germany and the international leadership teams, contributing to strategic discussions and market recommendations.
- Provide clear, data-driven insights and recommendations on market dynamics, dating, competitive landscape, and box office trends.